It Is Written In The Stars
Chapter 9
"Hi honey, I'm home!" The Doctor grinned.
"Almost… missed…the birth this time." River gasped out during a contraction.
"Oh River, I'm so sorry! You should have gone to the hospital, not waited for me. Afraid it's too late to give you the medicine this time."
"Figured as much" She grimaced with pain. "Didn't go to the hospital…because I knew you'd make it."
"Barely. Where's Jonothon?"
"At a friends's house. Thought seeing his mother give birth might be too traumatic, what with the blood and all."
The Doctor nodded. Then scooped her up in his arms and strode into the Tardis.
"Sexy, you should have got me here sooner. River's almost ready to have the baby right now."
The Tardis made an apologetic noise.
"It's okay… he still made it in time" River said soothingly.
"Afraid, at this point, we're down to something that will take the edge of the pain, more like 21st century Earth."
"It'll do."
An hour later Amelia Song was cradled in her father's arms while an exhausted River slept.
"Look at you." he whispered "My beautiful little girl, named for your grandmum, Amelia Pond. River will tell all about her. Afraid I can't stay very long this time, so we'll have to spend this time together. Too bad your mum is too tired right now, but it gives us father and daughter time, hmm?
The newborn made a noise.
"What do you mean it's silly, bow ties are cool."
When River awoke, she was alone in her own bed, and Amelia was ensconced in the Doctor's baby cot in her bedroom. Hanging from her bedside bookshelf was a silver broach of a flower bud on a red velvet ribbon. Threaded through the ribbon was also a note. She smiled and carefully detached her husband's letter from the necklace.
"Dearest Melody/River, and you are to me, very dear, and our little Songs too. Speaking of songs, Amelia really likes Stevie Wonder's "Isn't she Lovely". She quite liked when I sang it to her, perhaps she'll like you to sing it too. I know how much you like Stevie Wonder. I thought Amelia would like his songs too, and she does. I didn't think about a special song for Jonothon when he was born. If you know his favorite song tell me next time. I will try to make it back soon, while Amelia is still a baby. Sorry I couldn't stay this time, like last time. Envious of your colleagues who will see so much more of our children than I will. I wish our family could all travel together on the Tardis. Will you someday? After… well, you know after what… I want us to have those "nights" together again too. They weren't out of guilt you know, well, not completely. Know it was also because of what you mean to me. You mean so much to me, my amazing wife. Your Thete/Doctor"
The Doctor showed up again two months later.
"Look! All the Songs together!" He shouted with joy, stepping out of the Tardis onto River's back yard. It was a warm and sunny weekend morning, so Jonothon had been "exploring" and bringing back to his mother the various "treasures" he'd found.
"Da!" Jonothon raced up to his father, his face bright with joy.
The Doctor kneeled down and threw his arms around his son. "You remembered me!"
"I made sure, my love." River smiled tenderly at the joyous reunion, cradling a sleeping Amelia in her arms.
"You want to see inside my house, Jonothon?" The Doctor looked back at his wife, making sure she was okay with this. River nodded with a faint smile.
"How come you have it look so weird on the outside? Was Jonothon's first response to seeing the interior of the Tardis.
"Well, that's new." The Doctor laughed. Then he answered the question. "It got stuck that way."
"Ask mum, bet she can fix it. Mum can fix anything!"
River chuckled.
River and the Doctor cuddled in his bed after a slow and tender reunion lovemaking. Jonothon and Amelia slept in the nursery the Tardis made for them in a room nearby.
"If only we could stay this way…"
The Doctor sighed sadly, and ran his fingers through those wondrous curls that sprang from her head almost as if magic did exist.
A month later River was telling Kirpa the news she was pregnant again. "Oh Kirpa, you were right. It's just like with your sister and her Time Agent husband."
Kirpa chuckled and patted River on the hand, "I told you so."
The next time River saw the Doctor Amelia had just turned 2 and Jonothon was almost 6. River was three quarters of the way through her third pregnancy, right at the end of the 'sexy pregnant lady' stage, and about ready to go into "what a whale!" stage, she snarked to herself. River could tell by the obvious desire in his eyes, he definitely agreed with the "sexy pregnant lady" opinion.
"River" he said, deeply aroused. He drew her into an embrace.
"Oh, definitely we'll have that later, my love." She responded huskily.
"Yes. Later." The Doctor shook off the spell of desire that just seeing River had created. "How long this time?"
She sighed. "almost two years."
He sighed in return. "Do they even know their father now?"
"I told you last time, I made sure they would. I'll wake them. I doubt if they are asleep anyway" She grinned, then shouted upstairs "Your daddy's here, come see him!"
Sure enough, within seconds both children were pounding down the stairs, shouting with joy. They both literally threw themselves at their father. He grunted slightly at the double impact, but grinned at River and she winked back.
"All the Song family together again! You know what that means!"
"What?" Jonthon and Amelia chorused.
"Time for an adventure!"
The children giggled excitedly, caught up in their father's charm.
River smiled "Okay, but nothing with running for our lives, understand?"
"I promise, wife! In fact, I know just the place. I've missed several anniversary and birthdays all around. How about a special concert in New York City in 1972. Starring John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Stevie Wonder, Roberta Flack and Sha Na Na? "
"The One to One concert?"
"Yes!"
"I agree, let's go." Her eyes danced with happiness. She'd always secretly longed to have seen that concert.
The Doctor grinned and spun toward the console. It felt almost like back when it was River and himself along Amy and Rory, but happier- a family of his own in the Tardis again! He just knew River would immediately say yes when he told her where. He was so happy he was right, he let River fly the Tardis. It gave him time to play with the children. One last bit of joy before Trenzalore. He'd tell River about that afterward, he wouldn't ruin this moment of happiness that they next time they saw him it would be at Trenzalore.
There was an excited vibe throughout Madison Square Garden as they made their way to first upper level seats. Thanks to the Doctor they got the best seats still available. Jonothon and Amelia picked up on their mother's absolute joy and excitement and were excitedly chattering and asking questions up to when the concert started.
It was midway through "Instant Karma!" that River spotted them. Her parents, Amy and Rory. She almost cried out their names. They were so much older than when she'd seen them in Manhattan in 1938, but there was no doubt it was them. River gently tapped her husband's arm. He turned toward her, and quickly she leaned her forehead so it touched his.
"Telepathic conversation, River? What's going on? Did you spot something dangerous?"
"Not dangerous, wonderful. Look 12 rows up and two to the left.."
"Amy…"
"And Rory… yes."
"Oh River! I thought…"
"Me too. But remember what Amy said in the afterward- not you'll never see us again, but you won't see us again for a long time. She must have written that after this night. I was never sure when my note reached her- the one asking her to write an afterward for you. All I knew It was some time after the novel manuscript did."
"Go, River, go to your parents. I'll follow behind with the children."
River broke the telepathic connection and climbed up the twelve rows. Just as the cheers ebbed after the song ended, River called out to her parents "Amy, Rory, mum, dad…"
"River!" Amy cried, as Rory stood there stunned.
"Oh look Rory, our daughter is going to have a baby! We have a grandchild!"
The audience members nearby grumbled at the loud old lady.
River grinned. "Actually, mum, this is my third."
Amy started to shout excitedly again, and Rory good naturally put his hand lightly over her mouth to muffle the racket.
Amy ripped his hand away and glared at her husband "This is our baby, our daughter, we thought we'd never see again!"
"I know Amy, but let's not annoy everyone here to see the concert."
Amy grumbled, then her eyes widened in shock "Doctor.."
"Oh my Amy Pond, how I've missed you. And Rory, are you really happy here, so far away from your home?"
Amy and Rory shared a briefly but significant look with River. River looked back with understanding, some things weren't meant to be known by the Doctor, just the three of them. She knew without even hearing it from them.
"We've missed seeing you of course." Amy smiled " Missed all our family, but Rory and I are content. So long as we had each other, that was always enough. "But now getting to see you again, my long lost daughter, and these grandchildren… Thank you, Doctor."
Rory merely nodded.
"Mum, Dad" River felt a great burst of happiness inside to say those words she'd only been able to say a few times in her life, "This is Jonothon, he's almost 6 years old, and this is Amelia, she just had her second birthday."
Amy's eyes teared up, knowing that River had named her daughter Amelia.
"And Dad, come here, I best whisper this." Once Rory was leaned over toward her, River whispered in his ear "This one's another boy, and no matter how much the Doctor might complain, I'm calling him Rory."
Rory's eyes widened, he smiled and gripped her hand. "Thank you, daughter." He whispered back.
River felt her own eyes starting to tear up, he'd called her daughter for the first time.
"What did you say, I just know it was about the one you haven't had yet, please tell your mother too, Melody." Amy pleaded.
"I'll tell her, okay?" Rory stated.
Rory returned to his wife and whispered what River had said. Amy grinned at her daughter.
"Hey, I'm the father, what are you keeping from me, wife?"
River giggled and obligingly whispered it in his ear. The Doctor muttered about how children should be allowed to pick their own names. River rolled her eyes.
"Rory and I have someone we'd like to introduce to you." Amy smiled. "This is our adoptive son, Anthony." She pointed to a wide eyed young man with straight brown hair.
"So they really weren't just stories? Oh, wow. Uh hi!"
"Hello." River gave young man a gentle but warm smile. She was glad her parents had chosen to adopt and raise a child.
"Anthony Pond! Hello!"
"Williams, it's Anthony Williams." Anthony said, correcting the Doctor's mistake.
River thought it she might give her parents and adoptive brother an explanation why the Doctor always made that error. "Gallifrey was matrilineal. That's why he's always called you Ponds. More than any other companions you've been his family, even more so after I married the Doctor." River left it unsaid, but that was the reason why when they'd lost not just Rory but Amy as well, it was a blow the Doctor had almost not recovered from.
"Giving away my secrets, wife?" The Doctor mock scolded and smirked.
"Oh." Amy, Rory and Anthony chorused.
"My children all have the family name Song, because I'm Professor River Song."
"But they could be Ponds too?" Amy asked.
"Yes." The Doctor answers, "all the Ponds together again" His smile was bright, but River and Amy as well saw the sadness in his eyes. The tone was soft not gleeful, Rory noticed that.
"Doctor, we were planning on going to a diner nearby after the show, want to join us?" Rory asked, kindly.
"Yes! Please, Doctor? Amy pleaded
A rapid fire range of emotions spilled across the Doctor's face.
"Yes, of course we will." River answered
The Doctor nodded wordlessly
"Let's go now. I know we're missing the final number, but we'll get out before the crowd crush." Amy grinned.
About 15 minutes later they were seated at the diner.
Rory looked at River "We never forgot you. We went to this benefit concert because those children's situation reminded us of you. You lived your first years at that awful place. We couldn't help you but we could help those kids from Willowbrook. We not only bought tickets, we gave them a major donation."
"Yes." The Doctor said, "I did too. For the same reason. I didn't want to say it because it would make you sad, River."
"I-" River felt horridly embarrassed at the tears that started trickling from her eyes. Stupid, bloody pregnancy hormones. "Thank you." she murmured and ducked her head.
Jonothan, seated beside her at the booth, threw his arms around her.
River cuddled him back, and took a calming breath. "Mum's okay now. I'm not sad. Mum cries easy when she's pregnant, okay?"
"Did you when it was me?"
"Uh huh. Almost anything, I think, a happy or sad scene in a movie, listening to a song I liked…" She smile fondly "once even when saw a can of custard on a grocery shelf."
"Custard?" Jonothon laughed.
"Your father loves it, dear."
"Yep." The Doctor grinned, but melancholy was in his eyes.
Amy grasps his hand in sympathy. "Fish fingers and custard."
"So that's true, too?" Anthony looks wonderingly at the Doctor.
"Just about everything was." Amy smiled.
"I thought it was just stories for me, when I was a kid."
"People would have thought we were crazy, if we'd told you they were true. "
"She's speaking from experience." River adds. "I saw it happen."
"You really grew up with them?"
"Yes. I was their friend Mels." River felt tense about saying any more. She had no idea what, if anything Anthony knew about the Silence, the brainwashing and what had happened in Berlin. A big part of her hoped he knew nothing about her nightmare life and her greatest shame.
"But an accident happened on a trip to Berlin and you changed into River right?"
"Yes." River said faintly.
"And the Doctor recognized you as the woman he loved and after you got better and finished university you got married."
"Yes." she replied in an even fainter voice. Oh, how romantic Amy had made the story, the truth wasn't nearly as pretty.
"That's exactly what happened." The Doctor lied emphatically and happily to Anthony. He turned to River and titled her chin up and kissed her on the lips. "How I wished it happened, River." He spoke telepathically to her. Then he broke from the kiss and smiled at her.
River couldn't help smiling back and clasping his hand. "Me too." She thought back at him.
Amy felt a great wave of relief. Things were so much better between her daughter and the Doctor than they'd been the last time.
"You should come see their house." Anthony grinned.
"Yes! Stay the night! Please say you will? It's a huge house, lots of rooms!"
"Really?" River smiled, the little nest egg she'd put in place for them had paid off that well?
"Thanks to our daughter." Rory looked at River warmly "We had a home already waiting for us, a messenger found us right after we found each other at Grand Central Station. Gave me a telegram saying to go to this bank-"
"We got there and were told we'd inherited a house and money from a very distant relative. The house was ours free and clear as was the money."
"It was a bit much of a house for us at first, bit expensive to heat and all."
"Oh sorry."
"Not at all. We found out you'd made sure I was listed as a fully accredited medical Doctor. How you faked a 1938 accreditation I don't know and don't need to hear, but I'm grateful.
River smiled.
"And the book you wrote, Melody Malone, everyone believed I wrote it. I gave me a career as a writer. I started writing children's books, at first just altered versions of all of our adventures, but eventually I found I could write original stories too. Within ten years we had enough money to live at the house full time. Anthony hardly even remembers living above Rory's office, and just being at the house during the summers."
"It's an amazing house! I had a huge playroom!"
"And more toys than some shops." Rory grumbled good naturedly.
River understood, they'd indulged Anthony like the way they wished they could have done their daughter. Thankfully, Anthony hadn't come out of that an overindulged and self-centered child. Considering her parents she could see how. She was glad Anthony knew about her though, no matter if it was in a better light than reality.
She'd probably done the same with Jonothon and Amelia, glossed over her parents' flaws, made them almost fairy tale characters… They were both taking this surprise meeting with complete aplomb, and meeting an uncle unknown to them as well. Anthony seemed a bit more obviously overwhelmed, but still, doing okay. Mum was completely taken by her namesake, and Amelia, the little charmer, was eating it up, every bit her father's daughter. For his part Rory was looking nearly as taken in by Jonothon, and because of his quiet and bright nature he was charming his grandfather nearly as much. River turned to Anthony "I hope you don't mind my children monopolizing your parents attention."
Anthony shrugged. "Not at all. They'll be the same way some day if I have kids."
"I bet they will."
River, the Doctor, and the children ended up staying nearly a week at Amy and Rory's home. Neither party wanted to end this last meeting they'd likely ever have, and one so much better than the other. But near the end of the week the Doctor woke River in their bed in the early hours of the morning. "River." His eyes looked nearly as sad as they had in 1938 Manhattan. "We can't stay longer, at least I can't. But you might be able to. You brought your vortex manipulator with you, right?"
"Yes. But if you go, I and the children do as well." Her answer was firm, brooking no argument.
The Doctor simply nodded in gratitude. He'd brought the Tardis to Amy and Rory's house a couple of days ago, and managed to lose only a hour visiting time in the process.
River was proud of him. She'd let him go alone to retrieve the Tardis, and worried a bit he might lose track of time in the transit, but for him on his own he did pretty good. After he landed the Tardis he'd wheedled Amy and Rory into stepping inside it "one last time". He'd behaved himself and hadn't even begged them once to come along for "one last adventure". Perhaps what happened in 1938 Manhattan, and the paradoxes that still tightly circled Amy and Rory forestalled him. Perhaps their age gave him hesitance as well, both nearly 70 now. Anthony had peered inside the Tardis from the doorway but walked no further into it. River wondered if Rory had given him a few warnings about the Doctor as well, to be careful about walking into that big blue box, maybe not all the tales he'd heard about the Doctor were as pretty as the one he'd been told about herself and the Doctor.
They waited until after nightfall to leave. Amelia drowsily cuddled in her father's arms, while Jonothon held tightly onto his mother's hand and tried bravely not to cry, he was old enough to understand he might never see his grandparents and uncle again.
The morning after their surprise reunion Rory had taken Anthony with him on a mysterious shopping trip. He returned home with a Sony Umatic, the first videocassette recorder, first introduced the year before. Rory had been interested in purchasing one and trying it out, but the cost and weight of the machine had precluded that. But that all changed when his long lost daughter with her children and the Doctor arrived. River forbade the Doctor from touching the machine, and Rory's glare further forestalled him. River though, helped Anthony and Rory set it up. Soon the machine was working and recording away.
Seeing her father had forgotten to buy the player in his excitement she, with Amy's permission, borrowed her parents car, and with the Doctor in tow, drove back down to the city and purchased the player. River snuck the player in and set up the necessary connections to her parents TV.
Now on the evening of the departure Anthony was recording while his parents said their goodbyes to his sister, her husband and his niece and nephew.
Rory was proud of himself for holding back from crying. He'd cried like a kid when he held what he thought was his newborn daughter at Demon's Run all those years ago, but he was strong and almost stoic this time, managing a little smile even, as he hugged his grandchildren and his daughter. He'd even hugged the Doctor. He'd also caught a glimpse of a troubled look in his alien son-in-law's eyes. "What's wrong, Doctor?"
The Doctor looked chagrined and sighed, drawing him to the side. "We're leaving because of me."
"Why?"
The Doctor closed his eyes. "I made a mistake with the companion I picked after you two."
"River didn't stay?"
"She's a professor, remember? Then there was the children too."
Rory nodded, he understood now as far as his daughter not staying anyway. "What mistake did you make with the companion after us?" Rory looked concerned.
"I think she's a trap set for me, there's something not quite right about her, something too perfect to draw me in…"
"You haven't done anything have you?"
"No! I'm married to your daughter, and a father again as well."
"Good. I know River, under that role she sometimes plays, is gentle hearted and faithful, don't hurt my daughter, Doctor."
"Never in that way, I promise. Afraid I can't swear I'll never hurt her emotionally, not with where we are heading…"
"Does she know about that?"
"Yes. We've put in as much happy times together before that time though. But Rory, I haven't told her this yet, didn't want it to taint this happy time, especially not when this happened, but I think this the last time before the really bad thing happens."
"Is this something Amy and I know about?"
"Not sure. Can't remember. Did you hear anything about….Trenzalore…" The place name was barely a whisper.
"Yeah, something about your fall or something like that?"
"Yes."
"Not going to ask you about how bad it will be. I can see well enough. But tell me one thing, since I'm guessing we won't be there, will this be the end of the time you have with my daughter?"
"As 11 yes, but I think from the things I've seen, and River's seen, she'll be with me as 12. It'd be better too. I'll be better to her than I've been as 11."
"Okay. We better get back to them or you'll be getting questions from River before you've even left here. Take good care of my daughter and my grandchildren."
"Best I can, I promise."
Amy's goodbye was different this time from the last. While tears shone in her eyes like the last time, her voice was calm and clear. "You take care of each other, understand? Together or not at all, both of you. It's called marriage."
"Yes, mum I will."
"I promise Amelia Williams," The Doctor smiled at Amy and Rory, "to always try." Then the Doctor looked over at Anthony. "Set that down and come over here. Like it or not you're a Pond, come join the rest of us."
Rory chuckled. "You heard your brother-in-law. Come here son."
Anthony turned off the machine and gently set it down. As soon as he came in reach the Doctor gave him a tight hug. "Now you take care of them, understand Anthony Pond?"
"Yeah."
River hugged him next. "I hope I can see you again some day, little brother. The children do as well."
Amelia woke up and started wriggling and crying until she could get a last hug from her grandparents and her uncle. Once she had that, she cuddled up and fell back to sleep in her father's arms.
Jonothon valiantly tried to stop his tears, but to no avail, he hugged his grandparents tightly and his uncle. When he reached his uncle after the tight hug Anthony said gently "Hey, maybe you'll be grown up next time you see me and I'll let you drive my car? How about that?"
"Yeah." Jonothon smiled waveringly at his uncle.
River resolved to teach her son how to drive as soon as he was old enough, just in case.
After they left, Rory, Amy and Anthony watched the video of the visit many times. As technology changed Rory and Anthony updated the format. Anthony built a format conversation studio inside his parents home so the visit would remain a private thing just for the "Pond family", and "Williams", he amended. Years later, when he met his grandfather Brian, he brought the video with him on a flash drive. He and Brian watched it together and let tears flow freely as Anthony told him of his granddaughter. A week later, River herself showed up with an infant Jonothon and told him her story. Brian didn't tell River about the video or Anthony, something told him he mustn't yet.
River thought on that first conversation with Brian and how immediately accepting he was of her and wondered now. She knew Rory hadn't told his father about her, unlike Amy with Tabetha and Augustus. Rory spoke of that and apologized the first morning of the visit, shortly before he and Anthony went out to buy the video camera.
"I'm ashamed of myself now, River. Because of my indecision you missed out on yet another family connection you should have had. Amy made the right choice. At least they know you. Did you tell them about Manhattan 1938?"
"Yeah. They don't like the Doctor much now. Not that they were ever too keen on him. Especially Tabetha."
"But they're okay with you?"
"Absolutely. Spoil their great grandchildren like crazy."
Rory nodded with a purposeful look on his face. Shortly after that, he and Anthony went out and came back with the Sony Umatic.
River guessed Rory and Anthony kept updating the recording technology on the video. Anthony must have visited Brian after the date Amy and Rory disappeared and shown him the video. Brian had to have already knew who she was on the day she came to tell him the news about Amy and Rory and tell him who she was… She realized with sadness that Anthony would have to be around her parents age in that video when he would have visited Brian. No time travel for him. The next time she visited Brian with the children she'd ask about Anthony, she wanted to know what happened to him. She'd love for the children to see their uncle too, even though it might be a bit sad for Jonothon and Amelia.
River glanced over to see Jonothon had finally drifted off to sleep like his younger sister had, even before they left 1972 New York. She looked up to see the Doctor looking in on the scene from the doorway, a sad longing on his face. She could guess why, her hearts clenched with anxiety. Trenzalore, time was up.
She walked over and put an arm around him drawing him close to her side. "I know, my love, you don't have to say anything."
"Good. Don't want to."
"I know, I know." She kissed him on the cheek.
After a few minutes he said softly. "Think there's enough time to drop you back home."
"But you'll be alone then…"
"Better I am when it happens for me. I want you to sleep too, if you can. Hopefully good ones about the last Pond family adventure, huh?"
"I'll try."
"I don't tell you this near enough but…" he paused, then said aloud in Gallifreyan "I love you."
"I love you too, Thete."
"Melody." The Doctor whispered, and kissed her softly by an ear.
Then turned away and walked toward the console. River took his hand and squeezed it reassuringly. He looked back and slowed his stride till they were walking comfortably together. "It's called marriage" she murmured.